A dish towel — it’s something that you use for drying plates, glasses and other kitchen utensils after having them washed. Did you know that it may also double as an effective workout tool that helps tone your muscles and burn unwanted calories? With a dish towel, you don’t have to leave your home or spend tons of cash just to look fab!
Here are some of the very simple exercises that can be done with a dish towel:
Bridge
Grab a pair of dish towels and fold each one neatly twice. Sit on the floor and place the folded dish towels under your heels. Lie on your back and put your arms on your sides, palms facing down.
While pressing your heels down on the dish towels, bend your knees at approximately 45°, and then slowly take your hips up in the air. Hold it in place for about a couple of second while tightening your abdominal and butt muscles. Gently lower your hips and slide your feet back to the starting position.
Do 2 to 3 sets, each set made up of 12 to 15 repetitions.
Chest Press
Stand up straight with your feet almost shoulder width apart. Grab both ends of a dish towel and hold it right in front of your chest, with your elbows placed out towards your sides and bent at about 90° — think you’re gearing up to push a really packed shopping cart!
Slowly straighten your left elbow while taking your left fist straight in front of you. Keep the dish towel taut by pulling it with your right hand, which should remain stationary. After a couple of seconds, slowly go back to the starting position. Repeat with your right fist going in front of you and your left hand providing an opposing force.
Perform 2 to 3 sets, with each set consisting of 12 to 15 reps.
Biceps Curl
While standing up, bend your elbows at a 90° angle. Wrap the ends of a dish towel around your hands. Make sure that your forearms are perpendicular to your upper arms, and your fists are facing the ceiling.
Pull the ends of the dish towel towards the opposite directions. As you do so, very slowly bend your elbows. Hold such position for 2 to 3 seconds, and then slowly go back to the starting position.
Remember to keep the dish towel taut all the time. Do 12 to 15 repetitions. Try your best to complete 2 to 3 sets.
Triceps Extension
Grab a dish towel and stand up straight. Place your feet almost shoulders width apart. Hold one end of the dish towel with your right hand, and then take your hand behind your head. Let the dish towel dangle right in the middle of your back. Reach for the other end of the dangling dish towel with your left hand.
Slowly extend your right arm towards the ceiling until it is almost straight up. As you do so, provide resistance with your left hand. Afterwards, slowly bend your right elbow until you are back to the starting position.
Do everything 12 to 15 times. Rest for about half a minute and then repeat everything, this time letting the dish towel dangle using your left hand. You might want to use a long dish towel for this particular exercise so that you may be able to flex the triceps of one arm without hurting your other arm!
Twist
Sit on the floor and bend your knees. Both your feet should be flat on the floor. Grab the ends of a dish towel and pull towards the opposite directions to make it as taut as you can.
As you slowly and carefully lean backwards slightly, take your arms straight towards where the ceiling and wall meet. Take both your arms towards the floor to your left while at the same time slightly twisting your upper body towards the same direction. Pause for a couple of seconds then take your arms back towards the ceiling as you untwist your upper body. Go back to a sitting position. This is counted as a single rep.
Repeat, this time going towards the opposite direction. Try to do a set which consists of 15 to 20 alternating twists.
Source: eatthis.com
